Examination of Conscience for Married ( louples■ I. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your

heart" - Mark 1.2:30**• Have we invited God to be the third Person in our

relationship?I * Do we strive consciously to include God in all our

decisions?

i * Do we trust God?| ••• Do we place our confidence in things like money,

possessions, prestige, clothes, position, politics,drugs, alcohol or horoscopes?

"Love one another as I love you" - John 15:12•»* Do 1 show as much concern, love, gentleness, care

for my spouse as 1 do for myself or lor other people?* Is our marriage the core of our lives or is it just

another thing we do"*«* Do I participate in niy spouse's life?*•* How do I love our children?

'•* Am 1 separate or aloof from them'"•" Am 1 able to show tenderness toward them?* Do 1 set at) example of love for them in the way I

love their rather/mother?'** Do i participate in their lives?*:' Am I able to accept my children and their way of

acting, talking, and living while still expressingmy values and expectations?

•♦• Do we avoid negative humor ancl putdowns?*•* Do we talk about our spouses to others in a negative

way?••* Do we share our home, talent, material possessions

with those in need?*•* Do we reach out to the poor, the lonely, the

handicapped, the homeless, the hurling?"Where two or three are gathered in my name, thereI am in the midst of them" - Matthew 18:20

*•' Is our home a little church"?••* Are we aware that we are gathered in His name as a

married couple?*»* Do we find time for personal prayer?••* Do we find time as a couple for prayer?*•• Do we find time as a family lor prayer?* Do we pray grace before meals, whether at home or

in restaurants?

*♦* Do we attend mass on Sunday and Holy Days ol

Obligation?*•* Do we bring our children to Mass?*♦* Are we availing ourselves to the Sacrament ol

Confession on a regular basis?■*»* Do we encourage our children to receive this sacrament?

4. "And the two of them shall become one body" - Genesis2:24

*♦* Do we strive tor unity in all that we do?''* Do we make our decisions as a couple?

*i' Do we really live as a married couple or as "married

singles"?•I* Do we show each other by our words and actions that

we are two in one flesh?*«* Are we affectionate towards each other?*•* Do 1 seek affection from someone other than my spouse?*•* Do 1 thank God (or my marriage?*•* Do 1 pray for my spouse?*•* Do I encourage my spouse in his/her struggles?*•* Do I deliberately entertain impure thoughts about

someone?""' Have I sought out impure images or movies?

*»* Have I engaged in impure conversations* Have I masturbated?'*' Have I compromised my marriage in my thoughts,

words, or actions?5. "The Lord sent them ahead of Him in pairs" - Lukel0:l

*♦• Do we share any hobbies or other interests as a couple?*•* Do we recognize God wants to use us for 1 lis purpose?*♦* Do we defend the dignity of marriage or ridicule it?

6. "But seek first the kingdom of God and Hisrighteousness" - Matthew 6:33

'> Do we spend as much tune and effort on our spiritual

growth as we do on other activities, e.g.. entertainment?*5* Have we discussed much time and money or other

resources we are sharing or plan to share with others?*»* Do we attend retreats, seminars, prayer groups as a

couple?*»* Do I or we read a book relating to our faith or about

improving our marriage?

7. "I came that they may have life and have it moreabundantly" - John 10:10

*«* Are we life-giving to each other and to our children?*•* Do we encourage and support each other?*** Do we defend each other?

*** Are we sensitive to one another's moods, feelings,needs?

*»• Do [ openly accept my spouse or am I trying to moldhim/her into who f want him/her to be?

''' Do [ nag, criticize or belittle my spouse?*:* Do 1 do this in front of the children, friends, in

public?*•* Am I judgmental?*•* Do I gossip or slander others?*5* Have I forgiven my spouse from the heart?*♦* Do i throw back in his/her face past hurts?•♦* Have 1 forgiven myself, ray children, others?♦5* Do I give 100% in my marriage?* Are we life-giving in our sexuality?* Do we only use natural family planning methods of

family planning when we have a serious reason foravoiding pregnancy?

'»' Do we sec our sexuality as holy, as a moment torenew the covenant of marriage?

* Do the books 1 read, the movies 1 watch draw mecloser to God, to my spouse, my family?

Ct'mptAKil In, Beth and Dennu ('obam

"Mortal Sin destroys charity in the heart ofman by a.graveviolation ni God's law; it turns man away from God, who ishis ultimate enc\ and his beatitude" -Catechism of theCatholic Church (CCC) 185S

Mortal sin necessitates a new initiative of Gods mercy anda conversion of heart which is normally accomplishedwithin the setting of the Sacrament of Reconciliation ...[Mortal sin] results in the loss of charity and the privationof sanctifying grace" - CCC 1856, 1861

For sin to be Mortal three conditions must together be met:(1) grave matter; (2) committed with full knowledge; and(5) deliberate consent.